Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 547: Diplomatic Mission to Bulgaria (Special thanks to book friend 2022…6725 for the monthly ticket!)

After the three of them sat down in the hall and chatted for a while, Chai Zongxun briefly told them about the Eastern Roman Empire sending envoys to ask for help.

Chai Zongxun said:

"My two beloved concubines, how are the people in your parents' country living?
What about relations with Bulgaria?

Anna was very nervous when she heard that the Eastern Roman Empire was now under attack from three sides. She hurriedly said:

“Your Majesty, in the Eastern Roman Empire, where my parents live, everyone, whether the ruler, ministers or common people, is a devout believer in Nestorianism.

With vast land and sparse population, the output of the land is quite abundant, and the whole country follows the "Theodosian Code", in which rural farmers are taxed based on land area, and urban citizens are taxed based on population. The tax rate is strictly enforced according to the law, generally between 1% and 3%, which is not high.

Therefore, in the Eastern Roman Empire, a common family could support a family of eight through their labor, and was considered the richest among the Mediterranean countries.

Of course, compared to the wealth of the people in your Majesty's Great Zhou Empire, it is still far behind. The staple food of the people in the Eastern Roman Empire is bread and beans, and only the princes and nobles can eat meat.

The common people have almost no ability to go to school and are generally illiterate because they cannot afford the expensive tuition fees.

As for the dispute between Bulgaria and the Eastern Roman Empire, it has a long history. Since Bulgaria became an independent country from the Eastern Roman Empire more than three hundred years ago, wars between the two countries have continued.

Your Majesty, I beg you to lend a helping hand to my brother, for the sake of the friendship between the Great Zhou and the Eastern Roman Empire."

In 438, after ten years of struggle and twists and turns, Theodosius II finally promulgated the Theodosian Code. The code was compiled on the basis of the Gregorian Code and the Hermogenean Code. This code brings together the edicts of many monarchs and decrees of the Senate in Roman history. It is a large collection of edicts and decrees, summarizing the development of Roman law.

The Theodosian Code consists of sixteen volumes with extremely complex and detailed content, and its influence continued to this day in the West.

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:

"Don't worry, my beloved concubine. I have decided to aid the Eastern Roman Empire and will send troops to help if necessary."

Anna was overjoyed and thanked him quickly.

Ekaterina said:

"Your Majesty, my parents' country, Kievan Rus, has a cold climate and is much poorer and more backward in comparison.

Bulgaria is located in a plain area with a warm climate, abundant resources, and brave cavalry. It has been fighting with Kievan Rus for nearly a hundred years for population and territory.

Your Majesty, given the strength of the Great Zhou, it would be easy to defeat Bulgaria if you wanted to."

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
“It seems that the situation in Europe today is quite similar to the situation in China during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period when many heroes emerged.

I have conquered too much territory too quickly, and my rule is not yet stable. There is no need to attack Bulgaria for the time being.

"A stone from another mountain can be used to polish jade."

The Eastern Roman Empire's code of law is well-categorized and detailed, and our Great Zhou can learn from this."

Seeing that it was late at night, Chai Zongxun immediately got up and took Anna and Catherine to the backyard bathing pool to bathe.

After the maids finished serving them, Chai Zongxun pulled the two girls onto the bed...

A few days later, on March 12, the 45th year of Kaixi, the envoy of the Eastern Roman Empire was extremely satisfied with the affirmative response from the Ministry of Rites. He set off for home with the return gift from the Great Zhou Empire.

On March 15, Xue Ying, the Minister of Rites, went to the palace to bid farewell to the emperor, and under the escort of 2,000 Dragon Guards, he left Bianjing to go on a diplomatic mission to Bulgaria. He went north along the "Great Zhou Straight Road", passing through Bianzhou, Weizhou, Huaizhou, Taiyuan, Zhubu and other states, and arrived at the former capital of Khwarezm, Keti, on June 2.

Hu Lian, one of the three pacification envoys of Longxiong Guard, had already received the imperial edict and rushed to Keti City three days in advance to wait.

Hu Lian led 3,000 elite soldiers of the Longxiang Guard stationed in Central and West Asia to meet Xue Ying and his party five miles outside the east gate of Keti City.

After the two sides greeted each other, there was a long exchange of pleasantries.

As Xue Ying and his companions traveled along the way, they saw that every place was densely populated with people and there were many merchants and travelers. The people were well-dressed, behaved politely, and were in a hurry.

Even in the sparsely populated territory of Khwarezm, there was a constant stream of pedestrians on the national highway.

Xue Ying sighed:

“The world is bustling with people, all for the sake of profit.” It is also said: “When the granaries are full, people will know etiquette.”

Now, under your majesty's national policy of "giving equal importance to agriculture, industry and commerce" and "governing the country according to law", the people of all ethnic groups in our Great Zhou live a prosperous and energetic life, and the public security is solemn. Even the Khwarezm region, which has always been rampant with bandits, is so peaceful! "

Hu Lian smiled and said:

"That's right! Now, under the new policies of the imperial court, the burden on the people in China and the West has been greatly reduced, and industry and commerce are thriving. As long as you are healthy, you will not have to worry about not being employed by a workshop or business, and your monthly salary is guaranteed. One person can support five or six people in the family.

In such a prosperous era, who would be willing to be a bandit with their head hanging on their waist?"

The two of them talked all the way and went into the city to discuss the matter at the Longxiang Guard office.

Hu Lian said:
"Don't worry, Minister Xue. I will lead the Dragon Guard brothers to escort you on this mission to Bulgaria. I will ensure that you and your companions will be safe and sound."

Xue Ying nodded and said:
"Envoy Hu has been stationed in Central and West Asia with his brothers, and is very familiar with this place. The safety of me and my subordinates depends entirely on Envoy Hu!
Your Majesty has ordered me to go to Bulgaria to make them give up and not send troops to the Eastern Roman Empire. Does Envoy Hu have any good advice for me?"

According to the official system of the Great Zhou Empire, the assistant ministers of the six ministries and the pacification envoy of the Longxiang Guard were civil and military officials respectively, and their official ranks were all of the third grade.

Hu Lian pondered for a moment and said:

"In my opinion, the Bulgarians are also a nomadic people, similar to Khwarezm and Kyrgyz. Their people are fierce, worship the power of force, and fear power rather than virtue.

Now, Your Majesty sent His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to lead the army. After more than a year, he conquered the entire territory of Kievan Rus, killed millions of Russians, and shocked Europe!
Minister Xue only needs to question them sternly and make them understand the consequences of not obeying the imperial edict of the Great Zhou Emperor. I believe they are not stupid people. "

Xue Ying said:
"I understand! I will live up to your majesty's trust.

It will be up to Hu Zhenfu to decide when to enter Bulgaria."

After resting for two days in Keti City, Hu Lian brought his 3,000 Longxiang Guards and the 2,000 Longxiang Guards who escorted Xue Ying from the capital. Each of them prepared three swords, a Shenbi bow, a "Kaixi No. 33", 500 rounds of ammunition, grappling hooks, darts and other special equipment. The weight of a single person's luggage was nearly 50 kilograms.

On June 7, the 45th year of Kaixi, after receiving a report from the Longxiang Guard lurking in Bulgaria, Hu Lian led a group of 5,000 Longxiang Guards, including Xue Ying, and other envoys from Koti City to the Bulgarian border.

Five days later, at 3:00 p.m. on June 12, we arrived at the Tulcea Checkpoint in Bulgaria.

Tulcea is located in the southeasternmost part of Bulgaria, bordering the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It is a stone fortress checkpoint about ten feet high, with a garrison of about 10,000 people.

(End of this chapter)